Warsaw Community and Economic Development Director Jeremy Skinner, left, listens to a question from Councilman Mike Klondaris, right, about the water line extension on North CR 100E. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union.

By David Slone
Times-Union

WARSAW — Warsaw Redevelopment Commission is working with Applied Thermal to extend a water line up a portion of North CR 100E.

As part of the first steps in the process, the commission approved a declaratory resolution adding Applied Thermal to the acquisition list and a resolution for the disposition of the Applied Thermal property.

Warsaw Community and Economic Development Director Jeremy Skinner explained, “Much like what we just did with Danco, we’re doing the same process with Applied Thermal. Applied Thermal came in four or five nights ago. They were looking at doing some improvements to their building. At the time, they’re were looking at putting in a private water system to support their needs. And I said, ‘Why wouldn’t you extend the water line?’”

He said they did some cost analysis and it was determined it was cheaper for Applied Thermal to do the private water system than extend the water main, which was not in Applied Thermal’s best benefit.

After some further conversations with Applied Thermal, Skinner said he agreed to contribute the amount of the additional cost to extend the water line by thousands of feet, which will help the city attract new business.

“There’s a 150-some acres to the east that at some point I’d like to see us work on developing, as well as some acres to the north. So it’s to our benefit to extend the water up (CR) 100 East, or Husky Trail, with the intent of helping that development in the future,” Skinner said. “So I agreed to contribute the $300,000 in additional costs to run the water line, rather than them putting in a private water system.”

The declaratory resolution is the beginning of that process, he said. It amends the development plan to add Applied Thermal into the acquisition list, which is similar to what the Redevelopment Commission did with Danco and the extension of a gas main, only this time it’s a water main.

“So, basically, we’ll purchase their property and dispose that property back to them,” Skinner said.

The declaratory resolution adds Applied Thermal to the acquisition list, with the second resolution being the disposal process.

Commission Vice President and Councilman Mike Klondaris said what he liked about it was that it was clearing the way for future businesses to come in there and have access to water.

Councilman Jack Wilhite said companies knowing infrastructure is already in place makes it more attractive for them to come in.

“And just the future development of that acreage, I mean, right now we have sanitary sewer that runs along Husky Trail. Now we’ll have water that runs about 50% off Husky Trail. So the accessibility of that infrastructure makes it easier for us to develop that in the future,” Skinner said.

Klondaris asked Skinner to provide a basic description of where all the property is.

“This is just north of the intersection of 200 and Husky Trail. So, again, northwest side of Pound Drive. So there on the northwest side of Pound Drive and Husky Trail. Off to the east is 150-plus acres of farm field that at some point we’d like to see develop, whether it be industrial or a combination of different developments. But we ran the sewer out there and that sewer line was designed to provide sewer to that large future development, so this water line will give us that capability to service public water out there, or Indiana American Water,” Skinner explained.

The city is also working on a roundabout for the intersection there at CR 200N and Husky Trail. The water line will go from that intersection up to Pound Drive and a little ways down behind Pound Drive to the Applied Thermal property.

The commission unanimously approved the declaratory resolution 3-0, with members George Clemens and Joe Thallemer absent. The resolution adds Applied Thermal to the acquisition list, which allows the appraisals to be done for the property to be acquired. Similar resolutions also will go to the Warsaw Plan Commission, Common Council and back to the Redevelopment Commission.

The disposition resolution only goes before the Redevelopment Commission.

Klondaris asked Skinner what the anticipated timeline was for it all.

Skinner said his goal was to get it all completed by the end of the year. The water main project is underway, with the Redevelopment Commission issuing its check within the next 30-60 days so this year’s money can be used toward it.

“We had originally budgeted a million-plus dollars this year for Anchorage Road. Obviously, that didn’t happen for that project because a utility had to be relocated,” and that was going to take 18 months, he said. The Anchorage Road improvement project was pushed back to 2025, so there’s money this year for the Danco gas line and the Applied Thermal water line projects.

“It kind of worked out,” Skinner said.

The commission unanimously approved the disposition resolution.